Compositions for photodegradable and biodegradable plastic product and use thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a multicomponent composition for photodegradable and biodegradable plastic articles, and the use of said composition in the manufacture of various disposable and packaging plastic articles and the articles made therefrom. The multicomponent composition does not contain starch, and is a multicomponent compounded composition of new bioactive material of chitin, casein and the like, with biodegradable aid component, photodegradable and auto-oxidation catalysis component, and nonmetallic minerals and the like. Under natural condition, the degraded material can be utilized by microorganism to release carbon dioxide and water, and acts as an eco-friendly plastic material.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a multicomponent composition for photodegradable and biodegradable plastic articles, and the use of said composition in the manufacture of various disposable and packaging plastic articles and the various disposable and packaging plastic articles made therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] With the rapid progress of plastics industry, current plastics throughput of the world has far beyond hundred million tons. On the basis of statistics, worldwide synthetic resin throughput in 1999 is 156,700,000 tons. The use thereof has reached every section of national economy as well as every field of daily life. Among them, plastic packaging material and articles account for about 30 percent, approximately 46,000,000 tons. Only for china, consumption of synthetic resin in 1999 is 18,660,000 tons. The articles for plastic packaging are 5 million tons. That is to say, the consumption of plastic articles for packaging is huge.

[0003] The rapid increase of plastic consumption and advance of environmental sense of the people make that the research of degradable plastic is increasingly concerned. Recently some patents (for example Chinese patent application No:95191396) reports that new type polymer (such as microorganism polyester, aliphatic polyester, poly(lactic acid) and the like) of structure unit readily affected by light and microorganism is made by use of synthetic method. When this new type polymer is discarded after use, it can be degraded by utilizing the direct effect of illumination or microorganism. The degradability of degradable plastics made by this method is very good, but difficultly applied in great amount in market owes to synthesis difficulty thereof, and high cost.

[0004] Other patents (for example Chinese patent application No:98106850.2 and 98101407.0) report a “photodegradable and photodisintegrable” material. They adopt the process that photosensitizer, or the blend of photosensitizer with mineral powder of calcium carbonate, talc and the like is added to plastic raw material. Due to the fact that these materials are only subjected to photodisintegration, the degradation thereof is the change of from chunk to nub, satisfactory results are hardly obtained.

[0005] Still other patents (for example Chinese patent application No:95121178 and 99100726.3) report that a “biodegradable starch resin” is made by adding as the inducement of biodegradation, starch to plastic raw material. As is well known, starch can be utilized by microorganism, but the macromolecular of above-mentioned general plastics still hardly degradable. Finally only some pore is leaved in the surface of these “degraded plastic articles”, it is difficult to attain degradation in true sense. Additionally, granule of starch is often large, influences mechanical property, and it is difficult to make article of high strength and in thin thickness. At the same time, starch is readily absorbing water, however in the processing, even in the case of very low water content, bubble is also readily produced in the plastic articles. Starch is readily scorched at a high temperature, however the processing temperature of plastic is often high. For example, some companies adopt “biodegradable starch resin” mixed with high density polyethylene, which is blown to manufacture shopping bags, and due to the fact that starch is readily scorched, it is difficult to continuously make film.

[0006] All these impose numerous inconvenience to the processing of plastics. That is to say, the prior art can not realize truly degradation of general plastics themselves which are hugely used in the market, eliminate and reduce “white pollution”, realize friendliness to environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a multicomponent composition for photodegradable and biodegradable plastic articles, which can promote degradation of general plastics (mainly including PE, PP, PS, PVC, EVA, ABS, PA, PET and the like) itself which is hugely used in the market, make it eco-friendly after being discarded. The technical solution is that the new multicomponent composition is added to the above-mentioned general plastic material in an amount of 0.1-80 wt %, the result is to obtain various plastic articles which can be completely degraded and automatically consumed in the nature (sunlight, air, humidity, microorganism and the like).

[0008] Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is a multicomponent composition for photodegradable and biodegradable plastic articles.

[0009] Another aspect of the invention is the use of said multicomponent composition in the manufacture of various disposable and packaging plastic articles.

[0010] Still another aspect of the invention is various disposable and packaging plastic articles formed from said multicomponent composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The embodiment for carrying out the above-mentioned object of the invention is described hereinafter. The photodegradable and biodegradable multicomponent composition of the invention mainly comprises the following components.

[0012] 1. Biodegradable component: This component does not contain starch, characterized in that it comprises one or more substances selecting from the group consisting of chitin, casein, sodium (or zinc, calcium, magnesium, potassium) phosphate and metal salt of hydrogen phosphate or dihydrogen phosphate, amide derivatives of erucamide and oleamide and the like. The amount thereof is from 0.11 to 10 wt %, more preferably from 5 to 10 wt %.

[0013] 2. Photodegradable and auto-oxidation catalysis component: This component comprises metal ion organic compound of manganese, zinc, iron, cobalt, and cerium and the like, including one or more substances selecting from the group consisting of ferrocene derivatives, mainly n-octyl ferrocene, n-octanoyl ferrocene, undecylenoyl ferrocene, γ-ferrocenyl butyric acid, γ-ferrocenyl butyl butyrate and the like; thioaminocarboxylate, such as iron diethyl dithiocarbamate, iron dibutyl dithiocarbamate and the like; cobalt (or manganese, zinc, iron, cerium) aliphatic acid compound, such as cobalt (manganese, zinc, iron, cerium) formate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) acetate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) oleate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) laurate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) stearate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) cetylate and the like; acyl compound containing the ion of cobalt, manganese, iron and the like, such as cobalt (or manganese, iron) acetylacetonate; and other type compounds, such as dibutyltin laurate and benzophenone and derivatives thereof. The amount thereof is from 0.1 to 8.0 wt %, more preferably from 3 to 8 wt %.

[0014] 3. Biodegradable aid component: This component is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy-containing carboxylate, such as polyethylene glycol stearate, sorbitol palmitate, adduct of sorbitol anhydride laurate with ethylene oxide and the like; epoxidized soybean oil, and epoxy acetyl castor oil and the like. The amount thereof is from 0.1 to 8.0 wt %.

[0015] 4. Non-metallic minerals: This component is selected from the group consisting of talc, calcium carbonate, kaolin, wollastonite and the like. The amount thereof is from 10 to 90 wt %.

[0016] The photodegradable and biodegradable multicomponent composition of the invention is a degradable composite system obtained by compounding the specified amounts of above-mentioned components 1, 2 and 3, or components 1 and 2, and optional one or more substances selected from component 4, with a raw material of polymer resin and the like, and then extrusion pelletizing (or other pelletizing). The composition is added to general plastic raw material in an amount of 0.1-80 wt %. The prepared disposable or packaging degradable plastic article can make macromolecule of polymer gradually change into small molecule oxygen containing compound of very low molecular weight in the nature.

[0017] Actual test shows that these oxygen-containing compounds of very low molecular weight is readily utilized by microorganism, release carbon dioxide and water, reaching the effect of being consumed completely in the nature. So it can be new material eliminating and reducing “white pollution” and being eco-friendly.

EXAMPLE Example 1 A Photodegradable and Biodegradable Multicomponent Composition

[0018] The formulation of the photodegradable and biodegradable multicomponent composition is as follows: low density polyethylene resin 85.8 wt % Chitin  7.0 wt % Erucamide  1.6 wt % epoxidized soybean oil  0.2 wt % monoglyceride stearate  0.8 wt % epoxy acetyl castor oil  0.4 wt % γ-ferrocene acyl butyric acid  3.2 wt % cobalt oleate  0.8 wt % dibutyltin laurate  0.2 wt %

[0019] The low density polyethylene is weighed according to the above formulation, and put into a high speed stirred kettle at 50° C. Then the epoxidized soybean oil and epoxy acetyl castor oil are weighed according to formulation amount, and put into the kettle, stirred from 2 to 3 minutes.

[0020] Other components are then weighed, and put into the kettle, continuously stirred from 3 to 5 minutes.

[0021] The above stirred blend is extrusion pelletized by twin screw extruder (length/diameter ratio of 36:1, the temperature of extrusion sections is from 50 to 200° C., extruder revolution is from 25 to 450 rpm).

Example 2 Controllable Photodegradable and Biodegradable Mulching Film

[0022] The particles of multicomponent composition of Example 1 are added to low density polyethylene (or linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene) in the amount of 0.2-8 wt %. The amount of polyethylene resin is from 99.8 to 92 wt %.

[0023] After homogeneous mixing, the blend is put into the hopper of film extruder set (the extruder set is model PC-65 or others), then extruded and blow molded into film (film thickness is from 0.005 to 0.025 mm). This degradable mulching film has mechanical property which is essentially the same as that of conventional mulching film, and can be covered mechanically. Said degradable mulching film is innoxious to soil and crops, at the same time has good photodegradability and biodegradability. The induction period of said degradable mulching film can be controlled to 45±3 days, 60±5 days, 90±7 days, 120±10 days. Said degradable mulching film can be completely utilized by microorganism in the same year or next year after use to release carbon dioxide and water, and to reach the effect of being completely consumed by farm.

[0024] The degradable mulching film of various thicknesses can be made by use of the blend of above-mentioned multicomponent composition with linear low density polyethylene (or with high density polyethylene) in the above ratio. The super thin degradable mulching film having thickness of 0.005 mm can be particularly made, the mechanical property and thermal insulation, and moisture content keeping property thereof completely fulfill the need of farm covering and crops, and moreover the amount of mulching film required for per acre can be greatly reduced. The agriculture investment decreases.

[0025] The test results of mechanical property Standard Item value Test result Tensile load N, longitudinal/transverse ≧1.6 1.8/1.6 Elongation at break %, longitudinal/transverse ≧160 300/380 Tear load at 90° N, longitudinal/transverse ≧0.6 0.7/0.9

Example 3 Disposable Degradable Plastic Shopping Bag

[0026] The particles of multicomponent composition of Example 1 are added to high density polyethylene (for example 7000F of Mitsui Chem Inc.) in the amount of 0.2-8 wt %. The amount of high density polyethylene is from 99.8 to 92 wt %.

[0027] After homogeneous mixing, the blend is put into the hopper of blown film extruder (extruder screw diameter of 45 mm, length/diameter ratio of 28:1), and extruded and blow molded into cylindrical film (film thickness is from 0.01 to 0.5 mm). The film is then printed, punched, heat sealed and the like to make disposable packaging bag of various specification such as degradable plastic shopping bag, food bag and the like. The mechanical property of these bags is similar to that of common shopping bag with the same thickness, conforms to the technical demand of disposable plastic shopping bag. The sanitary aspect of the bag conforms to the demand of The National Standard GB9683-88 <<Food Packaging Bag Sanitation Standard>>. Said degradable bag can be degraded to powder within 20 to 80 days after use, such as discarded outdoors, and further be degraded completely by the nature to disappear.

Example 4 A Photodegradable and Biodegradable Multicomponent Composition

[0028] The formulation of the photodegradable and biodegradable multicomponent composition is as follows: polyethylene resin 22.2 wt % casein  8.0 wt % erucamide  1.4 wt % cobalt laurate  6.4 wt % benzophenone  0.4 wt % dibutyltin laurate  0.2 wt % epoxidized soybean oil  0.2 wt % epoxy acetyl castor oil  0.4 wt % polyethylene glycol stearate  0.8 wt % Talc   60 wt %

[0029] The polyethylene resin and talc are weighed according to the above formulation, and put into a high speed stirred kettle at 50° C. Then the epoxidized soybean oil and epoxy acetyl castor oil are weighed according to formulation amount, and put into the kettle. Operation procedure can refer to Example 1. The particles of multicomponent composition are obtained.

Example 5 Disposable Degradable Plastic Tableware

[0030] The particles of multicomponent composition of Example 4 are added to high density polyethylene (for example 5121A of Daqing Petrochemical Corporation) or polypropylene (for example 1300 of Yanshan Petrochemical Corporation) or polystyrene (for example 666D of Yanshan Petrochemical Corporation) in the amount of 5-40 wt %, the amount of the resin is from 95 to 60 wt %. The blend is homogeneously mixed and extrusion formed into sheet, and then heat formed to manufacture disposable degradable plastic messtin, noodle bowl, water dinking cup, and tray and the like.

[0031] The manufactured tableware conforms to sanitation standard of The National Standard GB9688-88 <<Polypropylene Article for Food Packaging>>. Said tableware can be degraded to powder in the nature within 1 to 4 months after use, such as discarded outdoors, further degraded, and utilized by microorganism to release carbon dioxide and water, reaching the effect of being consumed completely in the nature to disappear.

Example 6 Snack Tableware Including Disposable Degradable Plastic Knife, Fork, and Spoon, and the Like

[0032] The particles of multicomponent composition of Example 4 are added to polyethylene (polypropylene or polystyrene) mentioned in Example 5 in the amount of 1-10 wt %, and the amount of resin is from 99 to 90 wt %. The blend is homogeneously mixed and put into an injector to manufacture snack tableware including disposable degradable plastic knife, fork, and spoon, and the like. The snack tableware conforms to sanitation standard of The National Standard GB9688-88 <<Polypropylene Article for Food Packaging>>. The degradability is that said tableware can be broken outdoors in the nature within 1 to 2 months, and consumed completely by the nature within 4 to 6 months to disappear.

Example 7 Photodegradable and Biodegradable Water and Soil Conserving Plastic Shield Mesh

[0033] The particles of multicomponent composition of Example 4 are added to high density polyethylene (for example DGDB2480 of Qilu Petrochemical Corporation), or low density polyethylene (for example 2K1.5A of Yanshan Petrochemical Corporation), or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (for example EVA5/2 of Beijing Organic Chemical Plant) in the amount of 30-80 wt %, and the amount of the resin is from 70 to 20 wt %. The blend is homogeneously mixed and put into the hopper of extruder, formed into mesh through extrusion, to manufacture water and soil conserving plastic shield mesh with different degradation period. Said shield mesh is innoxious to soil and plants before and after use, has good physical mechanical property, can fulfill the demand required for water and soil conserving plastic shield mesh. Finally said shield mesh is also completely degraded, and consumed completely by the nature.

Example 8 Disposable Degradable Plastic Lighter Cover

[0034] The particles of multicomponent composition of Example 1 are added to polystyrene or acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer in the amount of 1-6 wt %, and the amount of the resin is from 99 to 94 wt %. The blend is homogeneously mixed and put into an injector to manufacture disposable degradable plastic lighter cover. The physical mechanical property of said lighter cover is similar to that of conventional plastic lighter cover, but it has the property of being degraded favorably in the nature, and acts as eco-friendly plastic material. 

We claim:
 1. A multicomponent composition for photodegradable and biodegradable plastic articles, consisting of a biodegradable component, a photodegradable and auto-oxidation catalysis component, non-metallic minerals, carrier and the like, characterized in that said multicomponent composition mainly contains the following components (1), (2) (3) and (4), or components (1), (2) and (4): (1) the biodegradable component in an amount of 0.1-10 wt %, which does not contain starch, and characterized in that it comprises one or more substances selecting from the group consisting of chitin, casein, sodium (or zinc, calcium, magnesium, potassium) phosphate and metal: salt of hydrogen phosphate or dihydrogen phosphate, amide derivatives of erucamide and oleamide and the like; (2) the photodegradable and auto-oxidation catalysis component in an amount of 0.1-8.0 wt %, which comprises one or more substances selecting from the group consisting of ferrocene derivatives, mainly n-octyl ferrocene, n-octanoyl ferrocene, undecylenoyl ferrocene, γ-ferrocenyl butyric acid, γ-ferrocenyl butyl butyrate and the like; thioaminocarboxylate, such as iron diethyl dithiocarbamate, iron dibutyl dithiocarbamate and the like; cobalt (or manganese, zinc, iron, cerium) aliphatic acid compound, such as cobalt (manganese, zinc, iron, cerium) formate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) acetate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) oleate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) laurate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) stearate, cobalt (manganese, cerium, iron, zinc) cetylate and the like; acyl compound containing the ion of cobalt, manganese, iron and the like, such as cobalt (or manganese, iron) acetylacetonate; dibutyltin laurate; and benzophenone and derivatives thereof; (3) non-metallic minerals in an amount of 10-90 wt %, which comprises the substance selecting from the group consisting of talc, calcium carbonate, kaolin, wollastonite and the like; (4) carrier component in an amount of balance, which is the general resin selecting from the group consisting of PE, PP, PS, ABS, EVA, PA, PET, PVC and the like.
 2. The multicomponent composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the amount of biodegradable component (1) is 5-10 wt %.
 3. The multicomponent composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the amount of photodegradable and auto-oxidation catalysis component (2) is 3-8 wt %.
 4. The multicomponent composition according to any one of claim 1 to 3, characterized in that said multicomponent composition further comprises a biodegradable aid component in an amount of 0.1-8.0 wt %, which is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy-containing carboxylate, such as polyethylene glycol stearate, sorbitol palmitate, adduct of sorbitol anhydride laurate with ethylene oxide and the like; epoxidized soybean oil, and epoxy acetyl castor oil and the like.
 5. A use of multicomponent composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in the manufacture of photodegradable and biodegradable disposable and packaging plastic articles, characterized in that the multicomponent composition is added to general plastic resin in an amount of 0.1-80 wt %, and formed into various photodegradable and biodegradable disposable and packaging plastic articles by using one or more plastics processing methods.
 6. A disposable or packaging plastic articles, characterized in that they are formed from the multicomponent composition according to any one of claim 1 to
 4. 7. The disposable or packaging plastic articles according to claim 6, characterized in that they are controllable photodegradable and biodegradable agricultural film, disposable degradable plastic shopping bags or food bags, tableware including disposable photodegradable and biodegradable plastic messtin, noodle bowl, water dinking cup, and tray and the like, snack tableware including disposable degradable plastic knife, fork, and spoon, and the like, photodegradable and biodegradable water and soil conserving plastic shield mesh or disposable degradable plastic lighter cover and the like which is plastic articles can be naturally degraded or degraded in specified time. 